State lawmaker to challenge Casey for U.S. Senate
State Rep. Jim Christiana of Brighton Township, Beaver County, whose district includes the western part of Washington County, became the second Republican member of the state House with ties to this area to announce he wants to challenge incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Casey in 2018.
Christiana, 33, just three years older than the minimum age to serve as a U.S. senator, has represented Washington County constituents since 2015.
A former Beaver councilman, Christiana graduated from Washington & Jefferson College, where he was a political science major, in 2006. He first ran in Washington County in 2014, when the district was reconfigured to include Amwell, Blaine, Buffalo, Cross Creek, Donegal, East and West Finley, Hanover, Hopewell, Independence, Jefferson, Morris, South Franklin townships and Claysville, Green Hills and West Middletown boroughs.
On his official website, Christiana states he “is serving his fifth and final term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.” His bio goes on to mention he is attending night classes at Widener University in pursuit of a law degree.
Christiana did not immediately return a call to the Observer-Reporter.
Christiana joins state Rep. Rick Saccone, 59, R-Elizabeth Township, who represents Finleyville and Nottingham, Somerset and Union townships in Washington County, as a GOP member seeking the nomination in next year’s U.S. Senate race.
Andrew Shecktor of Berwick, Columbia County, also has announced he’s seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat.